Pilates or toning advice anyone? Need goodbye jiggle help!!
Hi everyone!
Just have to give a little background to lead in to my question so I'm sorry- It's been about a year and two months since my Lap Band surgery and I am really happy with the results so far. Unfortunately I blew out my knee last summer (August '10) and after 8 months of physical therapy, I finally got my knee fixed and now have a brand new medial patella femoral ligament. Its been about 2 and a half months since the knee surgery and I've just started to get back into exercising and moving around normally. Because I wasn't able to do much aerobic exercise with my legs I feel like I've lost the weight through mostly healthy eating and some light work outs but now I'm dealing with some excess "baggage" (aka jiggly bits) that I need to oust so I'm trying to put together a brand new serious plan to tone and tighten everything everywhere.
I've been doing some pilates work in therapy (since the injury) and have started thinking about adding it to my regular exercise routine because it feels great and I enjoy it. I really haven't been able to use the treadmill or elliptical for a while but I think I should be able to soon and was just wondering if anyone had any advice on how to integrate Pilates into a work out routine... for example: maybe take pilates class two to three times a week then do a regular gym/ aerobic workout another two to three times a week?
Does anyone have any words of wisdom to share on their pilates experience or has anyone been using another successful method to get more toned?
I know there are major benefits to doing pilates on a regular basis but I'd love to hear more info from people who I can relate to.
I'm pretty strong so I'd like to avoid gaining bulky muscle. I really just need to get rid of as much tummy/ thigh/ muffin-top/ bat wing as I can through a healthy workout/ weight-loss regime. I know surgery can help in the long run for excess stuff that won't go away through exercise but I want to try as hard as I can to improve it as much as possible in a natural way before I seriously consider that option.
Thank you so much for your help!
-Kate
Just have to give a little background to lead in to my question so I'm sorry- It's been about a year and two months since my Lap Band surgery and I am really happy with the results so far. Unfortunately I blew out my knee last summer (August '10) and after 8 months of physical therapy, I finally got my knee fixed and now have a brand new medial patella femoral ligament. Its been about 2 and a half months since the knee surgery and I've just started to get back into exercising and moving around normally. Because I wasn't able to do much aerobic exercise with my legs I feel like I've lost the weight through mostly healthy eating and some light work outs but now I'm dealing with some excess "baggage" (aka jiggly bits) that I need to oust so I'm trying to put together a brand new serious plan to tone and tighten everything everywhere.
I've been doing some pilates work in therapy (since the injury) and have started thinking about adding it to my regular exercise routine because it feels great and I enjoy it. I really haven't been able to use the treadmill or elliptical for a while but I think I should be able to soon and was just wondering if anyone had any advice on how to integrate Pilates into a work out routine... for example: maybe take pilates class two to three times a week then do a regular gym/ aerobic workout another two to three times a week?
Does anyone have any words of wisdom to share on their pilates experience or has anyone been using another successful method to get more toned?
I know there are major benefits to doing pilates on a regular basis but I'd love to hear more info from people who I can relate to.
I'm pretty strong so I'd like to avoid gaining bulky muscle. I really just need to get rid of as much tummy/ thigh/ muffin-top/ bat wing as I can through a healthy workout/ weight-loss regime. I know surgery can help in the long run for excess stuff that won't go away through exercise but I want to try as hard as I can to improve it as much as possible in a natural way before I seriously consider that option.
Thank you so much for your help!
-Kate
Hi Kate! Glad to hear your knee is getting better and that you've made exercise such an important part of your life. It truly is the key to long term good health and weight maintenance.
I've tried Pilates and quite frankly it bored me to tears so I no longer do it. It is a good workout and it is very important to find things you like to do--then you'll keep doing them.
I think the recipe for a successful workout plan is to mix a variety of different workouts that concentrate on building muscle, strength training and cardio. This can be accomplished with many types of workouts: Yoga, Pilates, boxing, weight lifting, running, hiking, walking, etc.
Do not worry about getting bulky. Our bodies are not designed to get bulky. I currently do all of my arm exercises with 20 lb dumbbells and I'm just nicely toned with some definition...no bulk.
Exercise will only do so much for jiggly bits. When you build muscles it does make the skin look better, but unfortunately exercise will not reduce the actual skin. More importantly, as you probably already know since you've exercised previously, the best benefit is it makes you feel so good!
Keep trying new things and find a few different workouts that you enjoy. Then keep mixing it up and varying what you do and try to get in some form of exercise at least 6 days a week.
I've tried Pilates and quite frankly it bored me to tears so I no longer do it. It is a good workout and it is very important to find things you like to do--then you'll keep doing them.
I think the recipe for a successful workout plan is to mix a variety of different workouts that concentrate on building muscle, strength training and cardio. This can be accomplished with many types of workouts: Yoga, Pilates, boxing, weight lifting, running, hiking, walking, etc.
Do not worry about getting bulky. Our bodies are not designed to get bulky. I currently do all of my arm exercises with 20 lb dumbbells and I'm just nicely toned with some definition...no bulk.
Exercise will only do so much for jiggly bits. When you build muscles it does make the skin look better, but unfortunately exercise will not reduce the actual skin. More importantly, as you probably already know since you've exercised previously, the best benefit is it makes you feel so good!
Keep trying new things and find a few different workouts that you enjoy. Then keep mixing it up and varying what you do and try to get in some form of exercise at least 6 days a week.
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